A.   Characteristics of a fatigue-related accident

• The accident occurred during the night or the afternoon (between midnight and 5:00 A.M. or between 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M.)
  
• Generally, only one vehicle is implicated in the accident
  
• The driver is alone in the vehicle
  
• Most of the time the accident results in death or major injuries
  
• The accident occurred in the fast lane
  
• The driver made no manoeuvre to avoid the accident (no indication that the driver braked, no manoeuvre to correct the trajectory or drove off the road in a curve)

B. Checklist

1. The driver said he fell asleep at the wheel.          
2. Work schedule     
   • Type of work
   • Day, night
   • Hours worked
     (Those who work more than 60 hours a week are more likely to be implicated in a fatigue related accident.)     
3. How long had you been driving at the time of the accident?     
4. How long had you been awake at the time of the accident?
   (More that 18 hours awake results in diminished concentration, judgment and reflexes)   
   
5. When was the last period of sleep (how many hours)?     
   
6. For the previous sleep period, do you remember how many hours of sleep you had?
7. Were you taking any medication at the time of the accident?   
   If so, which ones:        
   
   

A survey of 937 Quebec police and carrier enforcement officers. The survey's high rate of response (78%) and answers to the questions showed that a majority of police and highway controllers consider driver fatigue a significant problem.

To the question, "You intercept a vehicle whose driver appears affected by fatigue enough to give him a ticket.  What would be the nature of the offence?" Half of the police officers and 28% of highway controllers were unable to give an answer.

Nearly 50% of respondents (49.7%) were unable to say what the nature of an offence given to a fatigued driver should be. Two-thirds of respondents acknowledged they need additional training.  The SAAQ report notes the need for training, awareness and information workshops on driver fatigue.

With reference to their experience with drivers affected by fatigue:

• 72% of highway controllers and 65% of police officers had already arrested a driver they thought was drunk but was in fact drowsy.
  
• 5% of police officers and 12% of highway controllers had already given a ticket to a fatigued driver who had been involved in an accident.
  
• 62 % of highway controllers and less than 1% of police officers had already handed out awareness material on fatigue during road operations
  
  

This report, presented to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, reviewed major accident reports from all modes with fatigue as a  probable cause.

The report says NTSB investigators found fatigue indicators related to:

• Recent work/rest history
  
• General work/rest history
  
• Time on task/time awake
  
• Appearance/behavior
  
• Organizational factors
  
• Task factors
  
• Circadian factors
  
• History of fatigue
  
• Medical issues
  
• Performance errors
  
• Self report

Evidence sources used by the NTSB

• Time of day
  
• Operator self-report
  
• Interviews with others
  
• Records
  
• Data/voice/video recordings
  
• Wreckage/reconstruction
  
• Medical tests